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SWOT analysis for e-commerce: what it is and how to do it step by step

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2024 5:01 am
by nurnobi30
SWOT analysis , or FOFA analysis, is a powerful tool for identifying improvements in your e-commerce and helping you make strategic decisions.

After all, this is one of the most popular evaluation methods, and it has great benefits for you and your e-commerce.

Therefore, follow this article until the end to understand everything about the origin of SWOT, benefits and practical examples to replicate in the management of your online store.

What is SWOT analysis?
What is the purpose of SWOT analysis in e-commerce?
5 benefits of using a SWOT matrix in companies
Where to use SWOT analysis in store planning?
SWOT Matrix Analysis Points
Who can complete the SWOT matrix?
How to do a SWOT analysis for an online store
SWOT Matrix Examples for E-commerce
Bonus: +5 strategic plan templates for companies
What is SWOT analysis?
SWOT analysis is an analysis tool used to assist in decision-making within strategic planning, based on the consultation of a matrix of information. The acronym SWOT is composed of the initials of the keywords in English:

S – Strengths, or “forces”;
W – Weaknesses;
O – Opportunities, or “opportunities”;
T – Threats.
In a Brazilian version, SWOT is also called FOFA – strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, threats.

The most accepted origin of the SWOT matrix is ​​the reference to management consultant Albert Humphrey, who developed the technique while working at the Stanford Research Institute in the 1960s.

But there are reports that the technique appeared in some case studies in the 1950s, in the Harvard Business School journal.

But what came first, the matrix or the analysis? The SWOT matrix. This is because the analysis method was only developed in the 1980s.

Thus, from then until today, SWOT analysis continues to be one of denmark phone number data the main evaluation methods, which directs the strategy of various sectors and is widely used in virtual commerce.

What is the purpose of SWOT analysis in e-commerce?
Now that we understand what SWOT analysis is and its origins, the question remains: how can we use this methodology to manage an e-commerce business ?

To do this, we need to explore each point a little more.

Consider that the SWOT analysis – or FOFA – creates a list of important information about the company.

In Threats , there are external factors that can harm the e-commerce operation.

Therefore, each of these points must be filled in, preferably, in a document to keep the record and monitoring, whether on paper or digitally.

By filling in each of the points, we gain visibility into the virtual store scenario and can analyze the best strategy to take advantage of Strengths and Opportunities in solving Weaknesses and Threats.

In addition to helping you get an overview of your business, SWOT analysis helps you grow your e-commerce business, assess its maturity, and identify areas for improvement. It is a technique that should not be ignored, as it can guide decision-making in a more assertive and strategic way.

Nathalia Bettoni, Marketing Coordinator at Yampi
5 benefits of using a SWOT matrix in companies
We have talked about some uses of SWOT analysis, but it is important to detail the advantages of using this methodology in the management of virtual stores, which are:

Greater competitive strategy: SWOT analysis also helps retailers better understand their competitors and how they are positioned in the market, allowing them to create strategies such as adjusting their offering or new products to compete more assertively.
Identifying market opportunities: SWOT analysis allows e-commerce companies to identify new market opportunities, based on trends or customer behavior.
Risk management: By assessing threats, managers can develop proactive strategies to reduce potential risks, such as changes in customer consumption, new competitors in the market or products.
Resource optimization: online store management gains an ally in resource optimization by understanding the weaknesses and opportunities, strengthening the areas that need the most investment.
Opportunity for innovation: The SWOT analysis methodology can inspire innovations and improvements in existing products, helping online retailers to remain relevant in the market.
In short: using the SWOT analysis method raises information that generates in-depth knowledge about the business, transforming data into a competitive advantage for online stores.

Where to use SWOT analysis in store planning?
The use of SWOT analysis, or FOFA analysis, for the management of an online store occurs on several fronts, and is not exclusive to just one area.

Thus, it is possible to create a SWOT matrix to:

Marketing strategy ;
Online store communication;
Launch of new products;
Expansion of the operation;
Opening of physical store ;
In any type of planning.
For example: when you highlight the company's strengths, you are naming its advantages over its competitors – which generates sales arguments.

By listing weaknesses, it makes it easier to see which points need improvement and which could negatively impact e-commerce.

To make good use of the SWOT methodology, it is important to understand, in detail, what the analysis points are. And that is what we will talk about next.

SWOT Matrix Analysis Points
As we know, the SWOT analysis considers 4 points: strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats. Furthermore, there is a second division, which considers the internal and external factors of the company.